One of the world’s most recognisable and successful football players, David Beckham owes all his success to Guinness.
David Beckham’s legacy relies on more than just his football career. Indeed, thanks to his marriage to a pop superstar and friendship with film stars, he is one of the most recognisable celebrities in the world.
So, it made perfect sense that he would be the focus of a Netflix documentary ten years after his retirement.
The documentary reveals interesting details about Beckham’s personal and professional life. But one of the most surprising revelations was the role Guinness had in his rise to stardom.
Beckham – a Netflix documentary series
Earlier this month (October 20203), Beckham – a four-part documentary series – premiered on Netflix to much excitement.
In the series, Beckham and a range of interviewees – including wife Victoria, former manager Alex Ferguson, and teammates Roy Keane, Gary Neville, and Eric Cantona – lift the lid on the former England captain’s career and personal life.
Among the most surprising revelations across the four episodes was the strict diet that Beckham’s father made him follow: one of Guinness and raw egg.
Guinness and raw egg – the diet of champions
Beckham started his football journey at Ridgeway Rovers, a team in his hometown, Chingford, in east London. His performances caught the eyes of many suitors, and he earned trials for the likes of Leyton Orient, Norwich City, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Beckham’s talents later earned him a move to his boyhood club, Manchester United. But his father remained worried that his ability would not suffice. “I was a bit worried about the size of him,” his father, Ted, told the Beckham cameras.
Ted had a plan to help his son bulk out: “That’s when we started giving him Guinness and a raw egg,” he continued. “To be fair to the boy, he did it every week”.
It appears his dietary advice wasn’t the only controversial tactic employed by Ted during Beckham’s early career. Ted admits to being hard on his son. Beckham corroborates this, saying, “I knew if I put a foot wrong, he’d tell me, and he’d always tell me.
“I would hear my mum turn round to my dad and say, ‘Stop talking to him the way you’re talking to him, stop shouting at him, stop telling him off. He did well today,” the former footballer said. “And my dad would always be like: ‘He did alright’”.
David Beckham – a stellar career
Ted asserts that his approach ultimately “turned out to be the right thing”, and it’s certainly difficult to argue with the proof.
Beckham made well over 200 appearances for his boyhood club, helping Manchester United to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the Champions League in the club’s treble-winning 1998-99 season.
He also captained his country on 59 of his 115 caps, leading the country at World Cups and European Championships.
His high-profile move to Real Madrid in 2003 didn’t pan out as he would have liked. However, he lifted the La Liga title in 2007 before becoming the poster boy of football in the United States with MLS side LA Galaxy.
He made appearances for AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before calling it a day in 2013 after amassing 19 major trophies in 20 years. All thanks to a diet of Guinness and raw egg!
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